People who live alone recorded one of the lowest RHI values (70.30). Moreover, they also returned the lowest differential (8) between improvement and deterioration of their state or happiness last year.

Undoubtedly, there is also a relationship between this low differential and the neutral (0) differential of individuals over age 75. It therefore appears that solitude and old age are a combination that doesn't leave much hope for anything positive.

Human beings do not seem to be made to live alone. Without a doubt, that is one of the reasons for the very high popularity of sites where people can meet. The fear of being alone pushes people to use all the alternatives that they can in order to avoid or change the situation.

One thing, however, remains clear. People who live alone suffer much more from significant deficits of happiness.

The Concept of Differential

The concept of differential between improvement and deterioration in the state or happiness of an individual last year is a useful, complementary indication for analyzing the various segments and subgroups in a population, making comparisons between them, and determining which categories in recent months have been the best and worst.

The differential is calculated simply by subtracting the percentage of respondents in a particular group claiming that their state or happiness improved by the percentage of those who indicated that it had not.